Caelan POV
Rhydan speaks to Elara in low tones a short distance away, his voice never rising and never pressing, carrying that steady, grounding cadence that only a Gamma uses when instinct has already told him exactly what is required and what would only add weight where none is needed.
I cannot make out the words themselves, only the rhythm. Calm and unhurried. It’s the sound of someone who is not attempting to lead the moment, not attempting to soothe it or reshape it into something easier to carry, but simply standing within it with enough certainty that the other person can settle without feeling watched or managed or judged for the weight they are holding.
It is presence, the quiet kind that says you are not alone, and you do not need to change in order for this moment to pass.
E
